Monday March 4, 2013 – Palais de Tokyo
One of life’s little joys is bringing home a piece of memorabilia from a place you’ve visited so that upon a glance or a touch, you can be instantly whisked back to whence you came from. Sometimes holding onto the souvenir is as important as holding onto the memory, especially when that place is far off the beaten track. So it bears notice that Maiyet’s designer, Gabriella Zanzani, who upon returning from her treks into the Himalayas, was inspired to translate the sights, textures and colors of that region into an imaginative Fall collection that gives a poignant glimpse into her memories of fiery villages and snow capped panoramas. Naturally, outerwear was a key component to the narrative, with cropped jackets, blazers and parkas giving off a young, downtown feel. The brand’s sense of youthfulness is never lost on the audience and is reinforced through fun, feminine numbers like a schoolgirl look with white pleated top and matching short jacket with a layered skirt. The incorporation of a horizontal fuchsia line across a vest and hooded parka number was a welcome pop of color which later transcended into a series of fiery red numbers such as a cloque harness long sleeve top, skinny pants and a degrade sweater. Sleek, Italian-crafted black and burgundy wood boots, either studded or tasseled, came in mid-calf to knee length proportions; ideal for making it through the snowdrifts on the sidewalks of NY or Paris this past winter. Fur t-shirts and felted blanket skirts kept with the theme of softness and comfort. Sculptural gold and horn necklaces as well as truss bracelets from Indonesia will be sure to please accessories addicts. Sleeveless dresses, either short or maxi, looked effortless and silhouette-slimming while a black, v-neck cleavage-baring gown was goddess-like. Though memories of places and dreams can become clouded over time, Maiyet’s vision for Fall is as sharp as ever.
